CBN Articles

The Canadian Baseball Network ( CBN ) promotes Canadian baseball players and teams from coast to coast. The Canadian Baseball Network features a draft list, ranking of the top Canadianbaseballprospects and featured articles.

People waiting outside the glass conference room aren’t really sure when the turning point in the meeting came.

Yes, there were a lot of raised voices.

It was not until long after the people had left, that the coffee, doughnuts and sody pop had been cleared away that a cleaner noticed.

There was a huge six-inch crack in the glass table.

It wasn’t there yesterday?

What could have caused it?

Could it have been one -- or two -- of the 108 diamonds in the Chicago Cubs World Series ring national treasure Fergie Jenkins was wearing during the discussion when he pounded his fist on the table more than once. Jenkins and Baseball Canada officials were in talks with farm directors, assistant general managers, GMs and of Major League Baseball executives?

Jenkins wanted a better turn out for this mythical Canada Day team than the one Canada had in March for the World Baseball Classic. And it appears as if he has it. Send the bill for the glass table top to Jim Baba of Baseball Canada. He’s the one who forgot to put the coasters down.

Before the teams were named a respected international scout said Canada and Puerto Rico were basically in a dead heat in terms of talent leading into the 2017 WBC.

After it was over -- Canada went three and out, Puerto Rico lost in the final -- I called him again and he replied: “I stick with what I said ... take seven of the best players off the Puerto Rico team and see what happens.”

As the Blue Jays don red tops to celebrate Canada Day against the Boston Red Sox, we select our 17th annual team. Way back when -- like at the end of June in 2001 -- this concept was like selecting an all-time Blue Jays batting order or guessing the probable pitchers for a Montreal Expos-Blue Jays World Series ... was a dream.

Then commissioner Bud Selig had not yet commissioned the formation of the 16-team WBC. Our first Canada Day lineup made its debut the day the Red Sox trio of Rolando Arrojo, Rod Beck and Derek Lowe blanked the Jays and Chris Carpenter 4-0 on two hits (singles by Shannon Stewart and Alex Gonzalez) in 2001.

Jenkins also had help from former club presidents Pat Gillick, former president of the Philadelphia Phillies, Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.), formerly of the Jays, and former GMs Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont.) and Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.) with the arm twisting. The goal is to pry away players from their respective teams for two weeks. Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Andrew Tinnish (Ottawa, Ont.) of the Blue Jays have supplied enough print outs to wall paper the conference room ... and cover a crack in a glass table.

Our Canada Day lineup is always healthy as Secretariat thanks to doctors Jason Smith, Allan Gross, Ron Taylor, Erin Boynton and Marc Philippon. They have everyone fit and ready from all the nagging injuries.

Ryan Dempster, anchor of our Canada Day team for 13 consecutive years, including six opening day starts was at our organizational meetings flying in on the friendly skies of Westjet. Dempster brought his pal, Mark DeRosa, star of MLB Network, a token Canadian after playing with the Blue Jays in 2013. DeRosa is like Mr. Wolf in Pulf Ficton ... the fixer to get players away from their teams and a pleasure to watch work, whether in a clubhouse or on the MLB Network, where he stars.

Donald S. Cherry (Kingston, Ont.) fires a ceremonial first pitch ... which would have been a strike at either the Cricket Field or Megaffin Stadium.

Before Donald S. Cherry (Kingston, Ont. -- Canada’s first captial) threw out the ceremonial first pitch, it should be pointed out our pool is as the same as a year ago when 10 Canucks appeared on major-league rosters by July 1.

Brought in at great expense by bus to catch the first pitch is former C Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) from The Bachelor.

June saw 23 Canadians selected in the draft, four in the first 10 rounds led by Toronto Mets RHP Landon Leach (Pickering, Ont.) of the Toronto Mets and there could be two in the first round next June -- Kentucky OF Tristan Pompey and C Noah Naylor of the Ontario Blue Jays. A total of four Canucks signed for six figures or more.(to date).

A total of 10 Canucks have appeared on major-league rosters this season, 113 in the minors (including 18 who have triple-A time) and 31 in independent ball.

We’ve chosen from deeper talent pools, but we’re glad we’re not picking the 1984 Canada Day team when there were only two Canadians in the majors: Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.) and Doug Frobel (Ottawa, Ont.).

The lineup:Leading off is Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Toronnto Blue Jays making his second start and his fourth appearance. After suffering a concussion during a slide in the WBC, Pompey played four games at class-A Dunedin on a rehab assignment. In his first game with triple-A Buffalo, he hurt his leg. He is ready to go for us.

Hitting second is Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) of the Blue Jays. Martin is behind the plate after starting at third in 2015. It is Martin’s 12th start and his 13th selection to our team.

Canada’s highest-paid athlete, Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) of the Cincinnati Reds in his 10th start and 12th appearance. Votto had volunteered to play left prior years when first base was a crowded picture, but is back at first base now.

Making his fifth Canada Day start and hitting clean up is 3B Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves. Freeman was WBC-eligible since his parents grew up in Windsor. Freeman wanted in on the 2013 WBC, but there wasn’t room at the in with Justin Morneau and Votto owning first and DH spots. Freeman told us twice he could not play anywhere else (outfield or third). However, since Aaron Loup hit Freeman and Matt Adams was acquired by the Braves -- and went off -- Freeman now says he will gladly move to third for Atlanta.

Batting fifth is left fielder Tyler O’Neill from Walker’s home (Maple Ridge, BC). It is his second time on our Canada Day team. He is at triple-A Tacoma and is ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Mariners organization according to MLB Pipeline.

In the No. 6 spot in right field is Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) in his second start and sixth year on our team. Romak started the season at triple-A El Paso before joining the Sk Wyverns.

Batting seventh is Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), who has not played since the WBC, but former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says he would still be a good pick up and could help some one for the stretch run. Morneau, 36, is in his 16th start and is the senior member of the roster.

Making his debut in the eighth spot is 3B Eric Wood (Pickering, Ont.) who is playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates system.

And hitting ninth is free agent Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC). Lawrie went to camp with the Chicago White Sox, was released, wants to play again and we’re going to put him at shortstop. It is his eighth start. He has started at both third and second. DeRosa will help calm Lawrie down.

And on the mound will be James Paxton of Ladner, BC. The Seattle lefty will be making his third start in his fifth selection.

Port Dover’s John Axford of the Oakland A’s will close for his fifth year and is in his ninth year on the team.

Canadian Baseball Network

The Canadian Baseball Network ( CBN ) promotes Canadian Baseball players and teams from coast to coast. The Canadian Baseball Network features our Draft List, ranking the top Canadianbaseballprospects and featured articles.